While the photo on the right may just look like a big blob of blackness, it’s actually a shot of a Headplay Personal Cinema System. What’s that? Never heard of it? Well, OK then.

It’s basically a glorified visor that somehow (ie. single LCoS micro-display) provides you with a virtual 52″ screen when you wear it. While it delivers separate images to each eye, they’re identical images which helps to eliminate eye-strain. And, those images are stereoscopic 3D.

It’s actually kind of amazing, I tested it out the other day at the DigitalLife preview event. Wear them while watching a DVD and it feels like you’re watching a movie in a movie theater, without the obligatory, annoying, big-headed dude sitting in front of you.

But, it goes beyond movies. Headplay connects to composite video and S-video signals, so it works with your favorite gaming console (also PCs, portable media players etc). I tested this function out too, playing a version of “Call of Duty” on the Xbox 360. It was rad, although it did take a minute to get used to the FPS pov when it’s like right up against your eyeballs. Speaking of which, you can adjust the focus so people that need glasses can use it too. Anyway, what makes Headplay particularly good for gaming is that you don’t have to remove the headset in order to look down at the controller. (Not that you do that anyway.) To see things around you, all you have to do is look down. Unlike similar systems, Headplay doesn’t suction to and cover your entire face.

Anyway, the Headplay system is available now for $499. Kinda steep, but hey. You can’t take your money to your grave, if you know what I mean. You could, but eventually it’d be ruined by the gak leaking out of your decomposing body. Check it out here.